Television also plays a big part in presenting a picture that to be accepted and fit in means to be thin. A young audience will watch such shows as Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place and Baywatch, and believe that they need to look as thin as the actresses on these shows do. Whether it is a daytime soap opera or prime time drama, television portrays the handsome, beautiful, slim and shapely as those who achieve success and tranquillity. Television consistently airs diet and exercise commercials depicting ?before? pictures of an unhappy and unattractive person, with the ?after? picture of a thin, happy and self-assured image. Richard Simmons strikes at every emotion of this belief with his telling pictures, poignant interviews, and exuberant exercise programs. In response to television, the demand by consumers for low calorie and reduced fat goods is booming and sales on these products are very substantial. Society is brainwashing young people into believing that being thin is important and necessary.
The diet and fashion industries are not totally responsible for society?s obsession with thinness. We are the ones keeping them in business. We buy into the idea that we can attain the ?ideal? body image. We allow ourselves to believe the lies being thrown at us constantly. We buy their magazines, watch the television shows and movies, purchase the shapely dolls, diet books and exercise products, and much more, propelling the concept of ?thin is beautiful?. We are throwing away our hard earned money trying to live up to the standards that society has set for us. Be prepared to spend lots of money on your quest for the perfect body and be prepared to never find it, because there isn?t one.
Schools should take an active role in preventing eating disorders by educating the students on the dangers of eating disorders and helping to teach them that in order to prosper in life, their weight does not matter. Young people need to be encouraged and accepted and taught that you do not have to be thin to succeed in the career of your choice. Teachers and school counselors should also be made aware of the signs to look for. If eating disorders are caught early, and the person is willing to accept the help that is available to them, the chances of recovery are greater.
The family environment can also play a big role in a teenager developing an eating disorder. If they are in a family where emotional, physical or sexual abuse is taking place, or they are a weight conscious family, the teen may develop an eating disorder to gain a sense of control. This control is used to block out painful feelings and emotions, or as a way to punish themselves, especially if they assume responsibility for the abuse. Being a teenager is not easy and there are many pressures that they face daily. Eating disorders can be very much about control, so if they feel like everything around them is out of control, they may develop one to gain a sense of control. It is important for families to raise the teenager to be proud of who they are and not place any importance on their appearance. We need to remind them that people come in all shapes and sizes, and we need to teach them to accept everyone for who they are. Parents need to also teach their children the value of healthy eating and not send the message that being thin is important. Many children, under the age of 10, are becoming obsessed with dieting and their bodies. They are afraid of becoming fat. They don?t just learn this from the media; they also learn this from their parents. If their mothers are constantly dieting and expressing their desire to be thin, these young children will start to believe they also need to be thin. We need to encourage and support our children, especially teenagers. They need to feel good about themselves and their accomplishments, they need your approval and they need to know that you are proud of them. If a child is raised to love and accept who they are and what they look like, they will be less likely to strive to fit into society?s unattainable standards. Assure them that they can come to you with problems and that you will listen to them and not judge them or put them down. They should be given the motivation to do their best but not to be perfect. They need to be encouraged to be themselves and to be proud of who they are, so that they will not give into the pressures from their peers to try and fit in. If they are happy with themselves and love who they are, they will be less likely to try and attain society?s unattainable ?ideal? body image.
It?s unfortunate, but in today?s society, people have forgotten that it?s what?s inside a person that counts, not what?s on the outside. We need to start loving and accepting each other for who we are not what we look like. Next time you decide that you are going to start another diet because you feel you are too fat, stop; sign up for a self-esteem class instead. That would be money well spent. If we learn to love and accept ourselves, we will also begin to love our bodies, no matter what size we are. This is what we need to teach our children, to be proud of whom they are.
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